Injuries sustained Saturday morning by an 8-year-old girl who was struck by a vehicle as it spun out of control at Ellsworth and East Broadway roads remain serious but are no longer life threatening, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred at approximately 7:43 a.m. Saturday, May 19, when a 2011 silver […]

[Update: A family member of the victim said in a Facebook message that Gilbert Hale was 43 and not 39 as previously reported.] A suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of a man who was shot in the 10700 block of East Boulder Drive, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said. “Homicide detectives were […]

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating the death of a male victim who was shot in the 10700 block of East Boulder Drive, in unincorporated Maricopa County west of Apache Junction. Deputies were called to the scene at about 1:30 a.m. May 14, Sgt. Bryant Vanegas, of MCSO’s public information office, said. The address […]

Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care and Valley of the Sun United Way is hosting three community events on preventing opioid addiction. These open forums will be held throughout April to serve as a place where community members can ask questions, express their concerns and get connected with services to help prevent and treat substance abuse issues, […]

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved adjustments to a variety of fees at regional parks, including those for day-use entry, camping and special use applications. In addition to the adjustments, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department sought approval to add a new service – a hike/bike/equestrian annual pass aimed at park visitors who hike or […]

Crews from Superstition Fire and Medical District assisted Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office with a rescue at Siphon Draw in the Superstition Mountains the morning of Feb. 14. Two hikers spent the night on top of the mountain and needed assistance getting down. They were evaluated by SFMD crews and released […]

Local residents can learn how to reduce crime and improve their personal safety and security at the 2016 Citizen Safety Forum, a series of free informational seminars presented by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Offered at locations in the east and west Valley, the Citizen Safety Forum features sessions on personal safety, home security, and identity theft as well as a complimentary lunch and question-and-answer session with Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, according to a press release.

“This event offers an excellent opportunity for citizens to learn important information that can help them avoid becoming a crime victim,” Mr. Montgomery said in the release. “I encourage people to take advantage of this free service and help us in our shared mission of improving public safety in Maricopa County,” he added.

Democratic groups and voters made good Friday, April 15, on their threat to sue state and Maricopa County officials for alleged civil rights violations in the March 22 presidential preference election that saw hours-long waits, among other problems at the polls.

The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix against the secretary of state and the Maricopa County recorder, among others, claimed the poll problems violated the Voting Rights Act and 14th Amendment.

The suit also targeted the attorney general’s office, saying a new state law making it a felony to turn in ballots for others violates the First and 14th Amendments. It was filed on behalf of seven individual voters, a Navajo representative, the state and national Democratic parties, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the U.S. Senate campaign of Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Flagstaff.

They said the suit is necessary to protect the “precious” right to vote “and to prevent the continued disenfranchisement of thousands of Arizona voters – including specifically Arizona’s Hispanic, Native-American, and African-American voters – whose right to vote has been and will continue to be denied or unreasonably infringed upon.”

Every Wednesday, the veteran inmates housed in Maricopa County’s Towers Jail get a treat. They get down on their knees to stroke, cuddle and hug the dogs – from chihuahua to pitbull mixes – staying in the MASH Unit.

It helps the inmates with post-traumatic stress disorder, officials said. And the dogs learn to cope with humans so they can one day be adopted.

MASH – Maricopa Animal Safe Haven – takes in abused and neglected animals seized from their prior owners through the Animal Crimes Investigations Unit. Sheriff Joe Arpaio instituted MASH 15 years ago, and the animals are now housed in an air-conditioned facility at First Avenue Jail until they’re ready for adoption.

Female inmates take care of the dogs. And now these male inmates can hang out with the canines in the veteran pods of the Towers Jail.

Bill McGowan served his country in the 1990s and developed PTSD, a neurological condition that has many side effects, including anger. Mr. McGowan said the Wednesday visits help him with his disorder.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on April 4 selected Chief Financial Officer and Assistant County Manager Shelby Scharbach as Interim County Manager.

Long-time county employee Tom Manos, the current county manager, announced his retirement intentions in February. His last day of employment is May 1.

Ms. Scharbach began her employment with Maricopa County in 1993, and was appointed chief financial officer in 2009. She also serves as executive director of the Maricopa County Industrial Development Authority, according to a press release.

“Having worked with Shelby on a number of issues during my tenure on the board, I have the utmost confidence in her ability to lead the county through this transition. The county will surely benefit from her vast experience,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman, District 4, in the release.

A nationwide search is in process for a permanent county manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the nation’s fourth most populous county. Maricopa County is home to more than 60 percent of the state’s population and employer to more than 13,000 workers.